The Different Types of “Rock Bottom”
There are many different stages of “Rock Bottom” that a person can experience. When it comes to addiction there is a common misconception that rock bottom means a person has lost everything in their life and is living on the streets. Many people think that in order for an addict to get better they have to hit this type of rock bottom—but that simply isn’t true. The fact of the matter is that there are several different types of “rock bottoms” out there. What may be the lowest point for one person can seem like “not that bad” to another.
Loss of a Job
It can become more and more difficult to manage a job while also managing an addiction. Many people are able to do it for a while, but sooner or later substance abuse will begin to create a negative impact on a person’s job performance. Taking too many sick days, showing up late or stealing from the register will all lead to losing a job.
Loss of Friends
As their addiction progresses, a person will begin to lose friends. This is because addiction will change the way a person behaves and how he treats others. Addiction causes people to say and do things that they normally never would have said or done had they not been under the influence. Many people who begin to experience the effects of the negative changes an addiction can cause on friendship will decide that it is not something they want to have in their lives anymore. Addiction often leads to burnt bridges, broken trust and lost friendships.
Loss of Family
Family members will usually stick around longer than friends but even they will have their limits. There are only so many times a person can put up with certain kinds of behavior before they decide to distance themselves from someone. This is one of the saddest things that addiction takes away because family is one of the most important things in life.
Loss of Possessions
Addiction is an expensive habit to maintain and becomes the primary focus of the person who is caught in its snare. Because of this, addicts will begin to pawn or sell their possessions in order to get money for their next fix. Other things may become lost, broken or stolen over the course of addiction as well. Addiction can and will consume everything of value in a person’s life.
Loss of a Home
Many people with addiction have lost their home due to their substance abuse. It is important to remember that this is not a requirement for getting help. It is actually better to try and get help before something like this happens.
Loss of Freedom
The longer a person uses street drugs or abuses alcohol, the higher their risk is for running into some form of legal trouble. Whether it be a possession charge, getting a DUI or theft charges, legal problems are a common side effect of addiction. Hundreds of thousands of United States citizens lose their freedom every year as a result of being incarcerated due to their substance abuse.
Loss of Life
Death is the ultimate form of rock bottom that too many people hit on a daily basis. This is why it is so important for people to realize that it is not only unnecessary to wait until hitting “rock bottom” before accepting or getting help—it is also dangerous. Street drugs are becoming more powerful and more unpredictable every day. Because of this, every time people get high they are playing Russian roulette with their lives.
If you are struggling with an addiction, don’t become a statistic by thinking it could never happen to you—reach out for help today.
